Aladdin pantomime hits stagewww.burlingtonpac.ca

The people who brought the Cinderella pantomime to Oakville last year are now bringing their Aladdin show to a local stage.

However, the Oakville-based company, Zeus Entertainment, will perform this new pantomime at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. The show opens on Friday (Dec. 21).

The Aladdin pantomime was written by Zeus Entertainment founder and Oakville resident Rikki Wright. The show features a host of whacky characters, from the hero, Aladdin, to the princess and the evil Grand Vizier.

During last year’s Cinderella run, the pantomime company gave away 1,000 tickets to local charities such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Way, Salvation Army, YMCA and others.

This year, the company is asking local businesses to buy tickets for these charities and every seat given away will be matched by Zeus Entertainment, thus doubling the number of ticket giveaways.

“By providing tickets to these charities, who support the less fortunate members of our community we provided some much needed relief and respite during a season where fun and laughter is not always readily available,” said Wright in a news release.

Wright, who immigrated from the U.K., started the company a year ago after realizing there were few affordable options for families to see pantomime shows, something he grew up experiencing as a child in Yorkshire.

Pantomime should not be confused with mime. Pantomime is a noisy form of theatre and performers often interact with the audience and the children in the audience are encouraged to interact back.

The centre is located at 440 Locust St. The show runs Dec. 21-23 and Dec. 28-30 with a mix of performances at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets cost $29-$39. For tickets, visit www.burlingtonpac.ca.